Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;domsunaci&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Domsunaci’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly and broadly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant form; uniform and freely flowering habit; relatively large decorative-type inflorescences with orange red-colored ray florets; early season flowering habit, grown under natural season conditions, plants begin flowering in mid-August in the United Kingdom; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOMSUNACI’. CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATEDAPPLICATIONS

Title: Chrysanthemum Plant Named ‘Domsuchir’

Applicant: Peter Wain

Filed: Concurrently with this application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant,botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium, commercially grown as agarden Chrysanthemum plant, referred to as code number 66567 in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/708,405 and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Domsunaci’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new garden Chrysanthemumplants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination made inJanuary, 2013 by the Inventor in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom of aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as codenumber 802483, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as codenumber 802167, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newChrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Fareham,Hampshire, United Kingdom in September, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by terminalvegetative cuttings was first conducted in Fareham, Hampshire, UnitedKingdom in December, 2013. Asexual reproduction by terminal vegetativecuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemumplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Domsunaci’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Domsunaci’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly and broadly moundedplant habit.

2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.

3. Freely branching habit; dense and full plant form.

4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.

5. Relatively large decorative-type inflorescences with orangered-colored ray florets.

6. Early season flowering habit, grown under natural season conditions,plants begin flowering in mid-August in the United Kingdom.

7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are larger than plants of the femaleparent selection.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences thanplants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower earlier than plants of themale parent selection.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection differin inflorescence form as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have decorativeinflorescences whereas plants of the male parent selection havesemi-decorative inflorescences.

3.Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection differin ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum haveinflorescences with orange red- colored ray florets whereas plants ofthe male parent selection have inflorescences with red purple-coloredray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Domsuchir’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Patentapplication filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Domsuchir’ in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences thanplants of ‘Domsuchir’.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and ‘Domsuchir’ differ in ray floretcolor as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have inflorescences with orangered-colored ray florets whereas plants of ‘Domsuchir’ haveinflorescences with dark red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Fichrydayor’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Patentapplication Ser. No. 15/732,507. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Fichrydayor’ inthe following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower earlier than plants of‘Fichrydayor’.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences thanplants of ‘Fichrydayor’.

3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and ‘Fichrydayor’ differ in rayfloret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have inflorescences withorange red-colored ray florets whereas plants of ‘Fichrydayor’ haveinflorescences with bronze orange-colored ray florets. BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph is a top perspective view of a typical flowering plant of‘Domsunaci’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter in 19-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Fareham, Hampshire, United Kingdom andunder cultural practices typical of commercial garden Chrysanthemumproduction. During the production of the plants, day and nighttemperatures ranged from 17° C. to 21° C. and light levels averaged6,000 lux. Plants were grown under long day/short night conditions forabout seven weeks (including propagation period) and then grown undershort day/long night conditions to induce inflorescence initiation anddevelopment. Plants were 14 weeks old when the photograph and detaileddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Domsunaci’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number 802483,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code number 802167,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent            on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type garden            Chrysanthemum; stems upright to outwardly spreading giving a            uniformly broadly mounded appearance to the plant; numerous            lateral branches and relatively short internodes, dense and            full plant form; moderately vigorous growth habit and medium            growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 21 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 31 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about nine lateral            branches develop after removal of terminal apex (pinching).        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:            About 10° from vertical and then bending upwardly. Texture:            Fine pubescence. Color: Close to 146D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 4.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 3 cm.        -   Shape.—Palmately-lobed; roughly ovate with three to five            lobes.        -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Slightly dentate and palmately lobed; sinuses            between lateral lobes mostly divergent.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Fine pubescence; slightly rough.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Densely pubescent; slightly rough.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,            close to 137D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper surface: Fine pubescence; slightly rough.            Texture, lower surface: Densely pubescent; slightly rough.            Color, upper surface: Close to 137D. Color, lower surface:            Close to 146C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Form and flowering habit.—Decorative-type inflorescence form            with ligulate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences borne on            terminals above and beyond the foliar plane; disc and ray            florets arranged acropetally on a capitulum; freely            flowering habit with about 63 inflorescences developing per            plant during the flowering season.        -   Fragrance.—Mildly fragrant; pungent, herbaceous.        -   Flowering response.—Earlier season flowering habit, plants            exposed to natural season conditions begin flowering in            mid-August in the United Kingdom; plants flower uniformly            and continuously during the flowering season.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color            and substance for about three to five weeks on the plant;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5.4 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—Disc floret development has not been            observed.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Conical. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About            227 arranged in about nine whorls. Orientation: Initially            upright, then about 75° from vertical; weakly concave.            Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Ligulate.            Apex: Emarginate. Base: Fused into a short tube. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            double-keeled. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to            34A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 34B. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to N30A; color becoming closer            to 34C with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 34B; color becoming closer to 34D with development.        -   Phyllaries.—Number ofphyllaries per inflorescence: About 18            arranged in about three whorls. Length: About 6 mm. Width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            waxy. Texture, lower surface: Fine pubescence; waxy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to            137B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 2.4 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncic: About 2 mm. Angle: Erect to            about 5° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong;            flexible. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Close to 147B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: None observed. Gynoecium:            Present only on ray florets. Pistil length: About 3 mm.            Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 9C. Style            length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 1C. Ovary color:            Close to 155A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and    pests common to Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed on plants    of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    demonstrated good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures    from about 0° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘Domsunaci’ as illustrated and described.